As a content creator, my phone does a lot of heavy lifting, especially when I travel. It’s my video recorder, my map on road trips, my boarding pass at the airport, and my editing studio on long layovers. So by the end of a travel day (or sometimes in the middle of the day too), the battery is usually the first thing to give up.
The power bank I’ve been using is a rather bulky one, so when Gidues asked me to try the Mini 1, a 10,000mAh power bank they describe as one of the tiniest portable chargers around, I was curious to see if something this small could actually keep up with my trips.
In this post, I’ll share what the Mini 1 is like to carry, how much charge you actually get out of it, what to know before flying with it, and whether I think it’s worth the money.
About the Gidues Mini 1
The Gidues Mini 1 (listed as the M1 on Amazon) is a small, squarish power bank with a USB-C cable built right into it. In fact, it is much smaller than most 10,000mAh power banks out there. That cable charges your phone, recharges the power bank itself, and loops back into a little handle when you’re not using it. It also has a USB-C port and a USB-A port, so you can charge up to three devices at once, and a digital screen that shows exactly how much battery is left.
It comes in three colors: pink, purple, and white and costs $20.99 on Amazon at the time of writing. I got the pink one. Here are the key specs:
- Capacity: 10,000mAh (38.5Wh)
- Max output: 22.5W (built-in cable, USB-C port, and USB-A port)
- Recharging: Up to 18W via USB-C
- Size: 69.7 × 58 × 28.9 mm (about 2.7 × 2.3 × 1.1 inches)
- Weight: 158g (5.6 oz)
- Support: 3 years of Gidues’ G-Care support
Gidues Mini 1 Specs
Size is the Mini 1’s big selling point. Gidues says it’s just 36% the size of an iPhone 18 Pro, and that comparison is all about footprint. Lay it flat on the back of an iPhone 18 Pro and it covers a little over a third of it, so nearly three of them would cover the back of the phone.
At about 1.1 inches thick, it’s more of a chunky little cube than a slim card, and on trips it lives in the front pocket of my crossbody bag, next to my AirPods.
The Built-in USB-C Cable
This is the feature I was most curious about, and it ended up being my favorite part. With the cable attached to the power bank, there’s nothing to forget at the hotel or untangle at the bottom of your bag. When you’re not charging anything, the cable loops back and doubles as a handle you can hook on a finger.
The same cable also recharges the Mini 1, so you just plug it into a USB-C wall adapter, ideally 18W or more for full speed.
It works directly with the iPhone 15 and newer and most Android phones. If you have an older iPhone with a Lightning port, just plug your own cable into one of the ports.
Charging Performance
Here’s something I wish more reviews explained: a 10,000mAh power bank won’t give your phone a full 10,000mAh, because some energy is always lost as heat. With the Mini 1, you can expect about one and a half full charges for most recent iPhones. In my test, it took my iPhone 17 from 5% to 100% once, then from 5% to about 70% before running out, so roughly 1.6 full charges.
It’s also pretty quick. iPhones charge from it at up to 20W, which counts as fast charging, and in my test my iPhone went from 5% to 50% in about 35 minutes.
Flying With the Gidues Mini 1
Since this is a travel blog, let’s talk about flights, because power bank rules have changed a lot this year. At 38.5Wh, the Mini 1 is well under the 100Wh limit, so it’s allowed in your carry-on on pretty much every airline. Here’s what else to know:
- Carry-on only: Power banks are never allowed in checked luggage. If your cabin bag gets checked at the gate, take the power bank out and keep it with you.
- Two max on international flights: Since March 27, 2026, new ICAO (the UN’s aviation agency) rules limit each passenger to two power banks, and you can’t recharge them during the flight.
- Using it on board depends on your airline: Some airlines, including the Lufthansa Group and Indian airlines, don’t let you use a power bank to charge your phone mid-flight at all. Rules keep changing, so check your airline’s website before you fly.
What I Loved About the Gidues Mini 1
- The built-in cable. One less thing to pack, forget, or untangle.
- The digital display. No more guessing from four blinking dots.
- Extra USB-C and USB-A ports for charging a second or third device.
- Flight-friendly at 38.5Wh.
- The price. $21 for a 10,000mAh bank with a built-in cable is very budget-friendly.
My Overall Thoughts
After a week of carrying the Mini 1 on day trips and around Seattle, it has earned a permanent spot in my crossbody bag. What I love most is how easy it is: there’s no cable to pack, and I always know exactly how much charge is left. If I could change one thing, I’d make it a little thinner. It hasn’t replaced my big power bank for long road trips, but for everyday travel days, this is the one I grab.
Cost: $20.99 | Available on Amazon
